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Government: Denmark needs to cycle more

Christian Wenande
September 5th, 2022


This article is more than 2 years old.

National Cycling Conference looking into new initiatives this week in a bid to coax people back on the iron horse  

More of this please (photo: Pixabay)

You might think that Denmark could afford to rest on its laurels when it comes to cycling. 

But it isn’t. And there is a reason for that. 

And that’s because there were almost 14 percent fewer cyclists on Danish roads in 2021 than there was in 2014 – a development that the government is eager to change.

The Transport Ministry has announced an ambitious strategy to see 20 percent more people on bikes by 2030 and the National Cycling Conference this week will focus on promoting cycling nationwide.

“We have a mutual ambition to get more people cycling. That requires that we work closely together across state, municipalities and organisations,” said transport minister, Trine Bramsen. 

“We must find solutions to getting children cycling. I hope there will be lots of ideas, proposals and experiences at the cycle conference on Monday and Tuesday.”

READ ALSO: How embracing a cycling lifestyle is good for the body, mind and environment

Health and pollution
For every kilometre biked the Danish society becomes over 7 kroner wealthier, wrote the ministry. 

More bicycles means less congestion and pollution, while the public becomes healthier and has less sick days. 

The downward cycling trajectory is particularly prevalent in urban areas. 

In Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, the number of trips by bicycle dropped from 33 percent in 2014 to 23 percent in 2021. 

A similar trend has emerged in Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg, where the number of trips has decreased from 22 percent to 15 percent.


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”